Author: deanne01

I am an avid reader and reviewer. I am open for review requests please contact me at Cnnamongirl at aol dot com. I work with big name publishers and indie publishers alike. I am on launch and street teams and have MANY NetGalley and GoodReads reviews up. I love all animals and I am a vegetarian. Thank you for joining me here.

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Every Summer After, a debut beach read from Carley Fortune

320 pages Berkley Publisher Publication Date May 10, 2022

Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A weekend to get it right.
 
They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone Fraser, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life a decade ago, that has felt too true. Instead of glittering summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in a stylish apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart.

Until she receives the call that sends her racing back to Barry’s Bay and into the orbit of Sam Florek—the man she never thought she’d have to live without.

For six summers, through hazy afternoons on the water and warm summer nights working in his family’s restaurant and curling up together with books—medical textbooks for him and work-in-progress horror short stories for her—Percy and Sam had been inseparable. Eventually that friendship turned into something breathtakingly more, before it fell spectacularly apart.
 
When Percy returns to the lake for Sam’s mother’s funeral, their connection is as undeniable as it had always been. But until Percy can confront the decisions she made and the years she’s spent punishing herself for them, they’ll never know whether their love might be bigger than the biggest mistakes of their past. 

Told over the course of six years and one weekend, Every Summer After is a big, sweeping nostalgic story of love and the people and choices that mark us forever.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

Be still my beating heart. What took me so long to read this book, it’s her debut book as well.
As young teens a young girl and her family spend summers at the beach in their cottage where she meets two teen brothers.
The book is told in alternating time periods between today’s time period when they are all adults and back when they were teens. It’s a friends to lovers kind of romance. All three are friends but she gravitates to one of the brothers and over their teenage years it gradually changes from best friends spending summers together to more as they get into older teenage years.
The author reels you in and you care about the characters, you are rooting for them.
It’s an awakening of senses, a vulnerability, a coming alive and coming into your own.
This summer romance has turned into so much more.
It’s smooth sailing and you don’t see it coming then you get gut punched! No, it couldn’t have possibly happened! There’s no forgiveness! You start to slightly recover and please, please, NO ! You can’t believe what you’re reading. It’s just not possible.
The author just brought the story to life!

Pub Date 10 May 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Author

Website

http://www.carleyfortune.com

Twitter

carleyfortune

Carley Fortune is the New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author of EVERY SUMMER AFTER. Her second book, MEET ME AT THE LAKE, comes out May 2, 2023. It’s a breathtaking love story about two strangers who come together when they need each other most. Once, in their early twenties, and again a decade later.

Carley is an award-winning journalist and worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications, including The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Life, and The Grid. She was most recently the Executive Editor of Refinery29 Canada.

Carley spent her young life in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, and in Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in rural Ontario and the setting for EVERY SUMMER AFTER.

EVERY SUMMER AFTER was an instant international bestseller and Carley’s debut novel.

Carley lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons. Follow her on Instagram @carleyfortune.

Thank you for stopping in today. Stay safe and warm.

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WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Taking on a World of Words

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone Fraser, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life a decade ago, that has felt too true. Instead of glittering summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in a stylish apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart.

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.
 
Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same–until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

First in a new cozy mystery series!

There’s nothing sweet about murder…

Leila Khoury has always believed that everyone loved her father as much as they loved his artisanal maple syrup. But when he’s killed, and she returns to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his business, she starts to realize how much of his life she’s left untapped.

With her brother under suspicion, her mother just barely holding it together, and police not producing any leads, Leila will have to investigate herself if she wants answers about her father’s sticky end. But the more she learns, the more she worries that there won’t be a sappy ending to the story.

A cozy mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, this edition includes 5 delicious maple recipes for mystery readers with a sweet tooth!

In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.

From the author of THE UNMATCHMAKERS and THE STAND-UP GROOMSMAN comes a chocolate-filled love story starring a heroine who is convinced she knows what will make her happy and a hero who seizes the opportunity to prove her wrong.

What are your thoughts on my books? Let me know in the comments your reading plans.

Have the best day ever and thanks for stopping by.

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Publication Day Review-Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna White-WWI and WWII

416 pages Bethany House Publishers January 24,2023 publication date

About The Book

In two world wars, intelligence and counterintelligence, prejudice, and self-sacrifice collide across two generations

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same–until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie’s inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling’s injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the SS officer he’s tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, never expecting to fall in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper’s daughter. But when war breaks out in Europe, their relationship is put in jeopardy and may not survive what lies ahead for them.

As the ripples from the Great War rock Evie and Sterling’s lives in World War II, it seems yesterday’s tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Grab A Copy here

My Thoughts

How do I even begin a review for this absolutely incredible book? Not much got done yesterday, I can tell you that. I read it all in one day.
We visit the Outer Banks in North Carolina several times a year and was so excited to see this took place there in Ocracoke Island, NC. I have been reading this author's books for years and she is an automatic read. I cannot resist her books. Her other books have been fabulous, I've loved them all but with this one she's totally blown it out of the water.
Taking place in two time periods, 1918 and 1942, it's always a treat to read a book taking place in multiple time periods with multiple points of view.
There is so much happening in each time period.
This historical fiction starts out in 1942 and I learned so much about this time period.
I found it fascinating to learn about the HMT Bedfordshire an armed naval ship in the service of the Royal Naval Patrol during WWII. It was sunk by the German submarine U-558 on May 11, 1942, off the coast of Ocracoke Island. It was staffed by British and Canadien crew.
Fascinating history switching between WWI era and WWII time periods the thread runs with the same family and includes not able to put it down action, heart-wrenching family drama, suspense and romance. There is a mixed-race relationship that leads to racism and discrimination which the author deals with carefully and respectfully.
I loved the book and am eagerly awaiting what this author puts out next.

Pub Date 24 Jan 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at http://www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Have you read this author yet? What are your favorite books by her?

Thank you for visiting the blog today. Have a wonderful day.

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Top Ten Tuesday-New to Me Authors I’ve Read in 2022

Hey all, welcome. Today’s theme for Top Ten Tuesday on That Artsy Reader Girl is New to me Author’s we’ve read in 2022.

Some people are hesitant to read new author’s books and prefer to stay with what they’re comfortable with, the tried and true. I respect that and can see their point of view. As for myself I love trying new to me authors. I have found many great authors that I can’t wait to try their backlist now and then you find some that you try a book and say, eh and move on. To me it’s always worth trying a new to me author.

New to Me Authors I’ve tried in 2022

“Don’t go in the guest bedroom.” A shadow falls on Douglas Garrick’s face as he touches the door with his fingertips. “My wife… she’s very ill.” As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can’t risk losing this job—not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe…

Mariah Fredericks’s The Lindbergh Nanny is powerful, propulsive novel about America’s most notorious kidnapping through the eyes of the woman who found herself at the heart of this deadly crime.

Two ordinary sisters. A long and brutal war. A heroic sacrifice…

London, 1915. As German bombs rain down on the East End of London and hungry children queue for rations in the blistering cold, fifteen-year-old Florrie is forced to grow up fast. With her father fighting in the muddy trenches, Florrie turns to her older sister Edith for comfort. But the war has changed Edith. She has grown quiet, with dark shadows under her eyes, and has started leaving the house at night in secret. When Florrie follows her sister through the dark and winding streets of London, she is shocked by what she discovers. But she knows she must keep her sister’s secret for the sake of their family, even if she herself must pay the ultimate price…

A twisty, domestic suspense debut about a clique of mothers that shatters when one of their own is murdered, bringing chaos to their curated lives.

She was the perfect wife, with the perfect life. You would kill to have it…

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care. But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her—but she’s going to have to work for it.

Beloved, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe delivers a hopeful and heartwarming story about an impossible Christmas dream, an unexpected act of goodwill–and a surprising chain of events that could gift joy far beyond the holiday season…

Sometimes you need to face the past to find your path in life…

A gorgeous, uplifting story about family secrets, unconditional love and staying true to who you are—even when life throws you a curveball. This irresistible novel is perfect for fans of RaeAnne Thayne, Elin Hilderbrand and Susan Mallery.

Barby Keel is used to all manner of creatures arriving at the door of the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary where she lives and works, deep within the Sussex countryside. Nothing can prepare her for the arrival of Teddy, however, a neglected, traumatised puppy who is dumped at the gates of the sanctuary in a filthy box, terrified and desperate for someone to love.

Two cousins who start a food stall at their local night market get a serving of murder in this first novel of a delicious new cozy mystery series by Jennifer J. Chow, author of Mimi Lee Gets a Clue.

A collection of lost books holds the clues to her family’s legacy…and her future.

Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family’s history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope’s last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.

There are so many more authors and books I could list but this is a start.

Thank you for stopping in. What new to you authors have you discovered while reading their books last year?

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Sometimes all you need is a little encouragement, Lauren the Jumping Cow by T.I.Frazier

22 pages Timothy Frazier publisher December 15, 2022 publish date

About the Book

Taking place in the countryside, Lauren is a Jersey cow (calf) who is determined to be a jumping cow when she grows up. She has to work hard and train if she is going to accomplish her dream. In the end, she doesn’t just jump but discovers she can fly.

This story teaches children to believe in themselves and to try new things even if it has never been done before. It encourages the spirit of exploring yourself and to push beyond what you think is possible.

My Thoughts

Lauren the cow lives with her mother in the countryside. When this jersey calf grows up, she is determined to become a jumping cow.
One thing I noticed right away is how vividly illustrated this book is. Younger children will be especially drawn to these beautiful illustrations. Older children who can understand the concept of the story will appreciate the lesson it tells, as it will help them to believe in themself.
Lauren wants to be a jumping cow and as they are not known for jumping the way horses are she starts out small and works her way up to bigger and higher things, a blade of grass, a stick and has finally worked her way up to trying to jump over a fence. Lauren, try as she may fails time and again though she has plenty of encouragement from the other animals on the farm.
Will she be able to jump the fence finally and become the jumping cow she is determined to become? Children will enjoy reading this with an adult and the encouragement they'll get out of it.
Highly recommended as a positive book for children.

Pub Date 15 Dec 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

T.I Frazier was born on the East Coast and spent most of his younger years living near Boston, MA. As a young teenager, his family moved to Southern California, where he completed High School and competed in Track and Field. Tim graduated in 2008 from Calvin University with a degree in Sociology and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration from Western Governor’s University in 2018.

Before writing his first book, he worked in a variety of financial-related roles, including business banking, private banking, analysis, and procurement in the healthcare and food industries. Concurrently, Tim served 10 years with the United State Army National Guard in various roles, including Chaplain Assistant, and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010.

Today, Tim works for a trust company as he continues to write inspiration and children’s books. He also looks to inspire others through various speaking engagements. If he isn’t running around playing with his toddler son and wife Lauren, he may be on the farm with his faithful dog Rocky and cat Al.

Thank you for stopping in. Have a marvelous day.

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A Maple Syrup Cozy Mystery, A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns

278 pages Poisoned Penn Press October 25,2022 Publish date

About The Book

First in the new Maple Syrup cozy mystery series from USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns.

There’s nothing sweet about murder…

Leila Khoury has always believed that everyone loved her father as much as they loved his artisanal maple syrup. But when he’s killed, and she returns to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his business, she starts to realize how much of his life she’s left untapped.

With her brother under suspicion, her mother just barely holding it together, and police not producing any leads, Leila will have to investigate herself if she wants answers about her father’s sticky end. But the more she learns, the more she worries that there won’t be a sappy ending to the story.

A cozy mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, this edition includes 5 delicious maple recipes for mystery readers with a sweet tooth!

What readers are saying about A Doomful of Sugar:

“There’s no shortage of twists and turns”

“Memorable characters, a charming setting…a well-plotted mystery”

“Developed characters, a strong plotline, and a few red herrings”

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

A Doomful of Sugar is the debut book in the Maple Syrup Mysteries Book series. The descriptions of maple syrup bring back a lot of memories. When the children were younger, we took them to a maple syrup festival in Meyersdale, PA. There was the maple syrup tour and explanation of how the syrup was tapped and boiled and made, which is exactly what the book had as well.
It was an easy-to-read book with not too many characters that you can't keep them all straight.
I liked the idea of our main character inheriting the maple syrup business from her father upon his suspicious death. As a teacher out of state, she has no plan to stick around she is just there for the reading of the will. Her surprise is genuine when she realizes her father has left the business to her rather than his wife or son.
Her father has no enemies, she is sure of it, but having not been there in four years she shouldn't be so sure. Always quick to extend credit and the grandfatherly type he seems like the last person you would expect to see knocked off.
As we move through the book and start to see a backstory of this man and his financial dealing a clearer picture is painted for us.
The suspected killer seems very clear as the clues point right to them, but you'll have to read this to judge what you think of the suspects.
I loved all the cooking and mentions of food, it made for a delectable read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Pub Date 25 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Books In The Series

Book 2

Only a sap would try to ruin a bride’s special day…

Spring has finally come to Sugar Ridge, Vermont, and with it the end of syrup-making season. But Leila Khoury, new owner of Sappy Endings Farm, won’t be making like molasses any time soon. Her best friend Heather’s wedding is coming up, and Leila will do anything to make sure it lives up to all her sweetest dreams.

Even with Leila’s own romantic past stirring up trouble, everything is going to plan until the bridal shower ends up with a body count.

Heather’s rich and backstabbing aunt had a whole orchard of enemies, so Leila will have her work cut out for her. Can she tap the killer before Heather’s dream wedding becomes a nightmare?

Includes delicious Middle Eastern recipes!

About The Author

Catherine is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in New York with her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in English and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. She also writes the Italian Chef mysteries, Cindy York real estate and Carrie Jorgenson (Aloha Lagoon) culinary series. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the 2019 Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.

Get a free ebook when you sign up for Catherine’s newsletter at https://www.catherinebruns.net/contact

Please feel free to connect with her on social media as well:

facebook.com/Catherine-Bruns-Books-218522341685434

twitter.com/@writesmystery

Thank you for visiting today. May your day not be stressful.

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Pleased to Invite you onto my blog today for the Bookouture Blog Tour of The Undercover Secretary by Ellie Midwood

Book: The Undercover Secretary 

Author: Ellie Midwood 

Pub Day:  January 19th 2023 

Buy Link(s):

https://geni.us/B0BJQBT43Hsocial

About the Book

France, 1942. “I forced myself to hold his gaze. My heart thrashed inside my chest like a bird battering its wings. They knew who I was. They knew what I’d done.” This heartbreaking and unputdownable World War Two noveltells the incredible true story Dora Schaul, who risked her life by coming face-to-face with enemy—the monsters who killed her loved ones.

Dora has lost everything to the Nazis. Her dearest friends have disappeared into thin air. Her parents have been imprisoned in concentration camps and murdered for the crime of simply existing. She has no idea if her darling husband, the devoted and brave Alfred, is still alive.

Though her world is crashing and burning around her, Dora refuses to give in to Hitler’s tyranny. The Nazis may have broken her heart, but they will not break her spirit.

Secretly working for the underground network in France, Dora risks her life on the most dangerous mission in the history of the local resistance. She goes undercover as the secretary of the Head of Gestapo; a soldier with a brutal reputation. A cold-blooded killer.

She is tasked with leaking the names of the SS to the British press. Every day, she rubs shoulders with the enemy. She makes coffee for the people she despises. She types letters for the monsters who killed her family. At any second, she could be found out…

Can she survive, turning the tide of the war and saving thousands of lives? Or will those she loved the most in the world, and millions of other innocent people, have died in vain?

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network, and The Lilac Girls will be utterly swept away by this heart-wrenching and totally gripping novel about one of history’s most courageous women.

My Thoughts

I love a well-researched historical book, whether it is fiction or nonfiction. This historical fiction book has held my interest the whole way through with its characters especially our main character, Dora.
The characters are portrayed very well, and I very much enjoyed reading about Dora’s strength despite the many terrible situations she found herself in.
This is a fictionalized story of true events.
The evil characters made me shudder, I couldn’t even imagine thinking of tricking them the way Dora did. She saw the torture they put men through and knowing she could be subjected to the same but yet she continues to act normal and pleasant among them while at the same time extracting and giving information right under their noses without them being any the wiser.
The author is an absolute magician with words. The way she has with words, she brings out such emotion in reader. Absolutely marvelous, soul stirring book that I will read again. Have your tissues with you, this is heartbreaking!

Pub Date 19 Jan 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Visit other blogs on the tour here

About the Author

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author, whose works have been translated into 14 languages. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, “The Girl from Berlin.” Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their two dogs.

Social Media

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/EllieMidwood/

Website: http://elliemidwood.com/

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/elliemidwood/

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Thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful day.

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Bookish Cozy Mystery Clause of Death (A Booktown Mystery Book 16) BY Lorna Barrett

334 Pages Berkley Publisher June 7,2022 Publish Date

About The Book

Bookstore owner Tricia Miles tries to open a new chapter in life, but murder mars the pages in the latest entry to Lorna Barrett’s New York Times bestselling Booktown series.

Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica, are the co-presidents of the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce. Things are changing in the booktown, and some merchants would say not for the better. They grumble that too many non-book-related stores are moving into the village, taking up the most visible storefronts on Main Street, diluting the “Booktown” moniker. Of course, the members with other businesses, like the latest, The Bee’s Knees, are fine with other businesses moving in. No matter what side of the argument they’re on, all the business owners agree on one thing: Tricia and Angelica are to blame. 
 
Still, it’s a pretty typical day in the life of a small-town Chamber of Commerce until one of the disgruntled bookstore owners is killed—Eli Meier from The Inner Light Bookstore, the most vocal of the Chamber complainers. He sold religious and other spiritual books, but also stocked books on wild conspiracy theories and sold incense, crystals, etc. Eli had never been a member of the Chamber until Angelica recently convinced him to join. He hit on her and she, having good taste, turned him down. He hounded (but not stalked) her, and some might think that was a motive for murder. 
 
Stoneham’s new police chief is an old friend of Tricia’s, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to go easy on her sister. One might even say that he’s going to throw the book at her.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

Clause of Death is the sixteenth book in the Clause of Death series.
Having read several books in the series I was looking forward to this book.
What I thought was pretty neat is because this is Booktown, most of the bookstores and restaurants along with shops have a book related name. I want to visit this bookish town.
I am familiar with our main characters, Tricia Miles and her sister, Angelica, who are the co-presidents of the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce.
At the town meetings and around town some of the residents make it known they are very unhappy with non-bookish shops coming into town and taking prime spots on Main Street.
When a disgruntled bookshop employee is found dead Stoneham’s new police chief has no problem trying to throw the book at one of the sisters.
There were some very surprising going On’s and it had a sad ending that I was hoping would have had a different outcome.
I’m looking forward to many more books in this series.

Pub Date 07 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Author

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent — whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett — that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s).

Lorna lives in Rochester, NY with her husband and two cats, Poppy and Emma.

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for visiting.

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Minx and Spanner

by Dougie Max, Cat story about friendship, courage and adventure, Children’s fiction

Matador Publications January 28,2023 publication

Cute children’s story about the relationship between two cats and what happens when they get catnapped!

Themes of friendship, courage and adventure

Ideal for 7 – 9 year olds

About The Book

Minx and Spanner are two cats who are living their best lives on the same street. They’re not friends, not yet, but one day they find themselves thrown together when they are suddenly catnapped by a ruthless gang of thieves!

The gang are stealing pet cats and dogs around the area and selling them to new families who don’t know they already have owners. It’s a cat-astrophe!

Minx and Spanner must now learn to trust each other to get away and figure a way out – and what are cats best at? Running, jumping and hiding. But will they succeed in getting away? And if they do, can they find their way back home to their families?

Wonderfully illustrated by Dave Hill, this tale of new friendship, adventure and family is purr-fect for younger readers who love animal heroes and heroines!

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

Though this book's suggested age audience is seven to nine years old, I enjoyed it myself and so did my daughter.
Minx is a beautiful white cat, a pampered pet we shall call him who lives with his human parents and a chicken. Yes, a show chicken who spends a lot of time in the house being groomed for shows. Minx thinks this chicken is annoying, but shhhhhhh, don't tell the chicken this.
Minx is so proud of his collar; it opens his cat flap leading to the outside for whenever he wants to nip out for a bit without bothering his parents.
Wandering around one day outside he sees Spanner, a ginger-haired cat, a male.
After visiting a bit with each other with Minx in the lead they go towards Minx's house and see a huge delivery truck delivering cat food . The most delicious treats are falling out of the back of the truck and being the curious cats, they are they both jump into the back of the truck to investigate.
Unluckily for them, they've both just gotten catnapped as the back of the truck shuts with a slam.
Scared as they are thrown into a cage, they wonder if they'll ever escape. Barking dogs scare them. Cats are good at hiding, scratching and jumping. Will they be able to come up with a plan?
These cats are acquaintances but not friends. Will they learn to trust each other and make a plan? Will they find their way back to their people?
Cute children's story about the relationship between two cats and what happens when they get catnapped!

Themes of friendship, courage and adventure.
Highly recommended for families! We will be reading this again and again.

Pub Date 28 Jan 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.


About The Author

Dougie Max is married and has three sons and three grandchildren. He started writing stories three years ago after telling them aloud sparked a desire to see them in print.

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Love Through the Seasons by Tracie Peterson-Review

354 pages Barbour Fiction Feb 01, 2023 publish date

About The Book

Bestselling author Tracie Peterson celebrates 30 years of writing with a collection of both old and new stories.
 
Four short contemporary romances take readers to the author’s native state of Kansas.
 
Spring – Stormy Weather
Gina Bowden, a young widow, fights city council to regain funding for her son’s Boy Scout troop. Something better than lightning hits, though, when she teams up with the equally tenacious troop leader.
 
Summer – King of Hearts
Elise Jost is a non-traditional student just one credit short of graduating. A hard-working woman determined to establish herself in the business world, she enrolls begrudgingly in a Renaissance appreciation course that will complete her credit hours. Her life’s direction takes a different course when she makes a high grade with Professor Ian Hunter.
 
Autumn – Falling for Love
Karen Armstrong Jacobs has been widowed five years and taken in her mother to live with her. When she learns her mother’s three sisters need a place to live, she opens her home up to them as well. Now there are a lot of repairs that need to be made to the house for safety’s sake. Enter Dan Polk, a widower with a contracting business and a heart for ministry, who makes over the house and Karen’s lonely heart.
 
Winter – Silent Nights
Lynn Murphy always dreamed of having the perfect marriage, and for a while she delighted in her dream come true. But Frank’s job has gradually overtaken their lives. When their plans for an anniversary trip at Christmastime are ruined by yet another business obligation, Lynn decides she’s had enough. She runs away to her grandfather’s house looking for answers. Only there does she begin to glimpse the surprising ways that God will satisfy the desires of her heart.

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My Thoughts

We are treated to a contemporary fiction book with four novella length stories in it. This author usually writes historical fiction, but she has presented us with contemporary fiction which I was just as happy to read. The stories take place in Kansas, the author's home state and each one involves a storm which the state is known for, along with hurricane preparedness.
Each of the stories takes place in one of the seasons so we get a nice mix of seasonal summer, spring, fall and winter and the activities the revolve around them.
The stories though not dated for a time period, to my way of thinking seem to take place in the eighties when people were kinder, more understanding and not quite the hurry, hurry attitude we have today no matter the cost to anyone else.
Feel good book that left me smiling! Recommended!

Pub Date 01 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

Thank you for visiting today. Have a marvelous Monday.